TULSA—We’re following up on a story we first brought you last monthabout a home in a Midtown neighborhood with piles of debris and other items in the front yard.
A viewer who saw our Problem Solvers story about the home— decided to help clean up.
For Matthew Loerke, owner of 'Litter-Gitters', cleaning up is just a job.
“Essentially I pick up trash around businesses, general property cleanup, cleanup downed trees," he said.
But it’s what he’s able to do for others through his company that shows his true passion.
“I was noticing different areas around Tulsa whether they be homeless site camps or whether they be a single mom or a widowed individual, I felt compelled to make a difference,” Loerke said.
That’s why Loerke founded 'Keep Our Future Clean', a group of volunteers who help to clean up areas in and around Tulsa.
One home the group cleaned up was featured in 2 Works For You report about code enforcement and a Midtown home facing an inspection. The homeowner tells us she has been depressed and neglecting her yard for far too long.
“I felt really compelled so I went to that area with the city inspector and we did a three day work clean up from her front yard it was quite a bit of work,” Loerke.
Since last month the yard looks much different-- but it is still a work in progress.
"It's a lot more work than what we can physically do with the time that we have but she said herself that it's helped her bring back hope and helped her get out of that depression and that’s what we’re all about. We might not be able to get all of the work done for her but we can inspire her to do that work or inspire other people to keep doing that work,” Loerke said.
The city has a Neighborhood Investigations team that handles complaints from citizens. The number is (918) 596-2100. There is also a page on the city’s website to file a complaint.
The volunteer group 'Keep Our Future’ clean is doing a major project Saturday August 6th to clean up an area for Night Light Tulsa— a group that works with homeless people. For more information on that event click here.
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